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Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Racing: Respect the Experience

Many years ago during my first Rock n Roll VA Beach experience, my mom and I encountered a group of female runners. My mother got talking to them and they told her how they all got their hair and nails done for the occasion and that they were even wearing false eyelashes. I should mention they were wearing full make up as well. I thought this was all a little much for a race where you were going to get all sweated up anyway, but hey, to each their own.

At Disney races there are always runners who are going to stop for pictures with characters, landmarks and heck might even stop to ride a roller coaster! You may think, why on earth would anyone want to do something that would purposely add any more time to their race? But they do. Again, to each their own.

At any given race ( not just Disney) you may see runners dressed in costume. You may see runners doing run/ walk or even a walk/walk/jog. Once again, to each their own.

I have a point to this post, just stick with me.

I have heard my students say "If you're not gonna try to win, then why bother racing?"

Not exactly the best attitude to have now is it?

Throwback pic to our first race

I admit the term "Race" gives off a connotation that when you run you have to beat "someone" or some "time". During my very first race, Disney's Royal Family 5K, I went in with the mentality that I was NOT stopping for pictures. Why would I do that? It's a race afterall. How could I be racing if I was going to be stopping. And taking pictures during a race, who does that? But let me tell you, after talking with a group of girls besides us in the corral (who told us we should stop and take pictures and enjoy it), we indeed decided to stop.

I mention all of this, the dress, the pace, the taking pictures, etc because a race is SO much more than just your time at the finish line. Yea, so maybe the make-up, hair, and nails were all a little overkill to run VA Beach but it looked like those girls were having a girls weekend where they wanted to pamper themselves. The people who run Disney and stop for pictures and ride rides, they are making some of the best memories (believe me) and they are certainly getting their monies worth out of their race registration! And the people who are walking/jogging, well maybe they aren't hard core runners but just want to be a part of the experience or support the cause.

Everybody runs races for a different experience. Yes there are some that are looking to PR, some that want to BQ, others that want to complete a life goal, and others that want to just have a fun time!

Sure I've seen people approach a race differently than what I would have and I learned to never judge somebody's "Why". So next time you see someone racing in a costume, someone racing in false eyelashes, or someone stopping during a race to take a photo, ask yourself "Why not"?

34 comments:

I love this post! We once had a girl in our running group who carried lipstick in her spi belt. She would stop at the last porta potty on the route to freshen her lipstick before crossing the finish line. She said she never wanted to take a bad finish line picture! Personally I thought it was a great idea, although I never did the same. Like you said, to each their own!

I love this soooo much! Very few of us will actually never WIN anything... but it is all about the journey. I think that's why I love the entire training experience too. It's all part of that race story.

There are so many different attitudes in races, aren't there? I have to say, I always love seeing people out there just having fun. The ones stopping for drinks & pictures & just having a good time. They cross the same finish line as the winner... & they had more fun ;) haha

To each their own I think! As long as you're conscious of racers around you. When I'm doing a race my attitude is usually to do the fastest race than I can. But there are definitely some races on my wish list that I'd do just for fun, like Tinkerbell, or any Disney race really. I would love to dress up and take photos and not worry about my time at all.

Definitely agree with your post!! A race could mean different things for different people. Sometimes I run races to PR, other times for fun and to enjoy the course. I would totally stop and take pics at a Disney race just to enjoy the experience. Like you say, to each their own!

I really don't think about what other people are doing during a race. I have seen the makeup and elaborate costumes during Disney races and actually the London Marwthon has a lot of runners in "fancy dress", most who are running for charity. As long as you are not causing a problem for the other runners, I say go for it and enjoy yourself. Everyone pays the same race fee!

You raise a great point - that races have different purposes for different people. For some people, dressing up and taking pictures and having a blast is the point! For some, taking the race seriously and getting that PR is the whole point. No matter what, we should respect what others want to experience and just enjoy our own race, whatever that may look like!

I can definitely see why some runners would want to stop for pictures and stuff during a race, and I think thats totally fine. its just not the experience I am looking for when I enter a race. I don't expect to win, but I do want to challenge myself.

Very good points! I love this perspective. :) Both times I ran Boston, I ran it for fun. I stopped to take pictures and all that good stuff. I figure the BQ race was the SERIOUS race and Boston should just be a party! In fact, I normally run Boston about an hour slower than my qualifying time. :)

Some races I'm in it to PR and nothing is going to stop me! Other races I'm accompanying a friend or family member and I go their pace. Sometimes I'm just out there to be in the company of a lot of runners while I do my workout. If I did a Disney race, I'd definitely stop for photos! I'd run for time another day.

I'm not always out there to race in a race. But I'm always out there to have fun and enjoy. Otherwise, why do it? :)

Great post! I noticed that at the Olympics Track & Field event some of the women racers were "dressed up." I always thought it was weird to "work out" in make up and what not but I think it probably boosts confidence! Like you said "To each their own!" :) :)

Fairytales and Fitness is a personal blog authored and edited by us, Meranda and Lacey. The thoughts expressed here represent only our own and are not meant to be taken as professional advice. Please note that our thoughts and opinions change from time to time. We consider this a necessary consequence of having an open mind in an ever changing society. Any thoughts and opinions expressed within our out-of-date posts may not be the same, nor even similar, to those we may express today.

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Fairytales and Fitness by Lacey and Meranda

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We are two sisters who are runners and Disney lovers. On this blog we tell our stories of traveling, training, races, ( and a few tips we've learned along the way). We talk about products we've tried and all the things that bring us joy (including our yellow Labradors). Thanks for visiting and we hope you enjoy what you read.